[grip_daddy]

Grip, the commandments in exodus 34 were written by God (in person).


The commandments that God wrote for the second time were the same very commandments He wrote on the first tables of stones, and the very commandments He spoke by His mouth to the Children of Israel. So I dont see a different set of commandments. In this chapter too, there are other words God summarily spoke to Moses which were not recorded in the table of stones.

And its interesting to note that when Jesus expounded on the (exodus 20) commandments in the Sermon on the Mount, he didn't mention the one dealing with the Sabbath.

He selectively mentioned commandments to teach an underlying truth; that the commandments given had a deeper meaning, whether the ten, or the ceremonial, or the civil laws. On the Mount His intent was to preach to His listeners the spirit of the law and principles of life according to God's love, mercy, and justice. Remember the same confusion about changing the law looked apparent to his listeners that's why He emphatically stated in Matt 5:17 onwards that He did not come to abolish the law.

I think one problem we have is that we have two different sources of authority.

All the sources of information should be in harmony and meet requirements a given standard. Personally I compare any doctrine to the general underlying doctrines of God, one being to keep God's commandments (see Daniel 7:25, Matt 15:9, Rev 12:17; 14:12). Anyone teaching that even one of the ten commandments is not important, I disregard that person and classify the source as false teaching (see Isaiah 8 especially vs 16 and 20).

For you its the Bible only, and for me its the Bible and the Tradition of the Orthodox Church.

I also study church's history to see how different doctrines emerged, how they understood God's providence and leadership, how they acquired divergent practices, and how such practices, beliefs, and doctrines maybe a reflection to secular philosophies of their times, if any doctrine may have had a pagan influence, and if any system of belief meet the test methods given by the bible. Paul said that we try every spirit, and the bible clearly outlines the criteria to do the evaluation.

Remember the bible talked of those who will err from the faith, those who were among the membership of the church, but they went away from the church to teach their own gospel. Paul encountered them, John dealt with them, Peter talked of their coming, and Jude cautioned againist them. So traditions that are not according to biblical ratified doctrines must be questioned, and discarded if found wanting.